Variable Air Vol.: Energy-Efficient Cooling & Heating for Buildings - Essay Sample

Introduction

Variable air volume is an air conditioning, ventilation, and heating system that provides a suitable and efficient alternative for the air conditioning of buildings with different temperature needs (Board, 2016). These systems are energy-efficient and meet the cooling and heating needs of a building. There are more efficient than conventional dual duct systems by more than 30%, especially in energy saving.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Where and why are chilled-water systems used?

Chilled-water systems are ice water generating units capable of cooling an area using water. A chiller uses the same principle as other air conditioners based on a refrigeration circuit. The difference is on the evaporator which this time is water. Instead of cooling the air, the chilled water system cools the water which will then cool the air, either via an Air Treatment Plant or via a fan coil or an air/water cassette (Board, 2016). Chillers are used wherever it is necessary to restrict the use of refrigerants, whether for technical or ecological reasons. These systems can, therefore, be encountered in the residential field, as in the tertiary or industrial:

• It can be used in a hotel, air conditioning a room with a chilled water system avoids the need for emergency ventilation and a refrigerant detector since the indoor unit will be free of refrigerant.
• In the tertiary sector, for example, it is much simpler for technical reasons to distribute chilled water in a multi-story building than to distribute refrigerant.
• In the residential sector, chilled water units have the advantage of confining the quantities of refrigerant. This advantage can make it possible to dispense with the obligation of periodic tightness control for example.
• In industry, chilled water will be used for process purposes used in the manufacture or preservation of certain products.

Another advantage of chilled water is to allow cold storage via the use of a buffer tank making it possible to store a sufficient quantity of chilled water. The chiller chilled water system is also ideal for large industrial, commercial and institutional installations. Generally, it is used with great frequency to cool different types of equipment, from the most complex - robotic machines - to the simplest - computer parts.

What are the benefits of LEDs compared with other lighting technologies?

The first advantage of LEDs is that they have a longer lifespan. The lifespan of LEDs goes up to 40,000 hours. A compact fluorescent lamp provides 10,000 hours of lighting, a halogen 2,000 hours and incandescent bulbs 1,000 hours. Efficiency is also significantly better: between 40 lm/W and 80 lm/W for a Led, a compact fluorescent light bulb is 70 lm/W and incandescent bulbs 16 lm/W. By changing lighting to LEDs, one can reduce energy costs by 70 to 90% and generate significant savings. The lighting in LEDs is instantaneous and the maximum level of brightness is reached upon switching on (Board, 2016). The maximum performance of illumination is achieved so instantaneous upon pressing the switch or detecting the presence of a person, unlike traditional bulbs that need a heating time to provide 100% of lighting their abilities. It never heats to more than 40 C, which makes the risk of burns almost nonexistent. The LEDs operate at very low voltage and in low temperatures. They heat less than compact fluorescent lamps and incandescent bulbs. Moreover, they are small and resistant to shocks. With full power lighting upon ignition, an LED bulb provides a restful and constant light. With the possibility of choosing a natural color closely corresponding to daylight, the lighting produced is of remarkable quality without background noise or flicker. When one wants to create a full-color atmosphere, it is possible to adjust the color temperature of the LED using a remote control or a suitable switch: yellow, blue, green, red, white, orange, and amber, etc. Besides, the intensity is easily modifiable, using these same accessories and even allows a few plays of light. The absence of ultraviolet emissions, the absence of mercury, and the absence of radiofrequency pollution makes it possible to eliminate health risks while making this technology part of a more environmentally friendly approach.

What does the diagram below show?

The diagram below shows a split-system heat pump heating cycle. The heat pump takes the energy from the natural environment (air, water or earth) and transports it to the interior of the rooms, heating them. It also works in reverse, taking the heat from the inside of the rooms to the outside, cooling them. And all this in a very efficient way, since the heat pump is capable of transporting more heat than the electrical energy it consumes.

What are the benefits of a well planned Energy Management System (EMS)? State 3.

Monitoring, analyzing and managing energy allows organizations to obtain very useful information about their facilities, in a simple way and, above all, act according to current consumption looking for energy savings, economic and management times. There are several benefits of an EMS. First, an EMS seeks the efficiency of energy use, therefore, following the requirements and measures that it implements will quickly show the results in a way of saving costs derived from the use of electricity. They do not have to be improvements that impact the budget, but they can also be improvements in energy behavior (Board, 2016). Secondly, it allows monitoring and controlling consumption, observing its peaks, and with these data the company can distribute the loads to avoid exceeding the contracted power, and the corresponding extra costs that this entails. It also helps with the elimination of those residual consumptions, showing where they originate, which greatly facilitates maintenance tasks. Another advantage of these systems is the creation of alarms about the deviations in the operation and the possible inefficiencies that may occur due to anomalous consumption in the installation or due to deterioration of the machines or any deviation in the normal consumption of a building.

How would you go about developing a target for energy reduction in an existing building?

When talking about the energy efficiency of a building, it refers to the amount of energy consumed or that deemed necessary, to meet the different needs associated with its use, which may include, among others: heating, cooling, and lighting. The energy demand in the building should be limited, and renewable energy must be incorporated into the building: solar thermal energy for heating domestic hot water and photovoltaic solar energy in large consumer centers. Other techniques in developing a target for energy reduction in an existing building includes checking that all equipment is functioning properly, turning off equipment when not using them, using high-efficiency light-emitting diodes, changing incandescent lights to high-intensity lights and compact fluorescent lights, adjusting ventilation and reducing outdoor-air ventilation rates, reducing peak demand, more efficient pumps, and efficient lighting solutions.

What is included in a waste audit?

Waste Audit is a systematic approach to the implementation of actions based on aspects that influence the environmental performance of a process. At the same time, it also answers various questions related to internal management: Where is the waste produced? Where are they located and stored? Has a sorting process been implemented? Are the existing containers suitable for production? Are they well located? Is the law respected? Are they aware of environmental issues? What are the expectations in terms of Sustainable Development and CSR policy? It consists of the identification, obtaining and evaluation of documentation to reach a previous diagnosis of the industry (Board, 2016). It involves all records related to Blueprints, general description of the main processes (main lines, production, purchases, sales, maintenance, etc.), service invoices, description of the establishment, flowcharts, qualifications, permits, fines, penalties, etc; management systems, good practices, etc; raw materials, inputs, resources (water, energy) and products; waste generated (quantity, type, characteristics, and its management); a survey of current regulations and their compliance, and other documentation deemed relevant. The analysis includes the study of information on materials used, production, energy requirements, waste analysis, critical areas, order and cleaning points, waste map and preliminary evaluation.

How can you identify opportunities to reduce the demand on the electricity supply system at peak times?

There are several opportunities to reduce the demand on the electricity supply system at peak times. First, it is crucial to spread out the usage of main appliances separately across 30-minute periods especially in peak demand times. Secondly, one should shift appliances usage away from higher-cost on-peak demand hours to lower-cost off-peak hours. Thirdly, practice load shedding and smart load management by running non-essential services outside peak demand periods. Fourth, install non-conventional HVAC systems such as heat pumps and gas-powered chillers among others. Fifth, the installation of energy storage systems such as batteries that can be used during peak hours thus reducing the peak size.

What are the benefits of reducing heat loss?

There are several benefits of reducing heat loss. First, it enhances thermal comfort. Thermal insulation due to its technical performance will protect you throughout the year, both in the cold days of winter and the hottest days of summer. Secondly, it promotes acoustic comfort. Thermal insulation also has acoustic performance, also protecting a building against noise. Thirdly, it ensures moisture protection (Board, 2016). The thermal insulation prevents moisture due to condensation, preventing their appearance and protecting a building home against molds and fungi. Fourth, it results in energy and economic savings because a building will be more protected against weather conditions, reducing energy demand and consequently reducing electricity or gas bills. To reduce the dependence on energy resources and in turn save, reducing heat loss is the best option for housing.

Describe the opportunities for energy conservation concerning lighting.

Replacing bulbs, bulbs or incandescent lamps with other fluorescents can help save in energy conservation regarding lighting. The first measure, and also the simplest, is to replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. A single change saves more than 80% of energy during the life of the lamp, bulb or bulb, which in the case of fluorescents ranges from 10,000 to 12,000 hours, against 1,000 of a traditional one. The energy-saving bulbs provide the same level of lighting, consume four times less electrical energy and have a lifespan up to 12 times longer than traditional ones (Board, 2016). High power lighting accessories should also be replaced by low power devices. Light energy can also be conserved by using lighting controls, for example, using sensing devices such as motion sensors, automatic timers, and infrared sensors in switching lights on and off. Other methods include reducing wattage, avoiding many fittings, installing dimmers, keeping lights clean, and using solar-powered batteries.

Building Energy Conservation Plan

Commitment to Sustainability

The buildings in focus belong to A-Star Companies. There are several environmental benefits that their buildings contain. First, A-star certified buildings recycle more than 90% of their demolition and construction waste. Secondly, compared to other average buildings, A-Star buildings use 60% less potable water. Th...